More about writing

[brigdh]

Ganked from several people:

01. Do I have a distinct style of writing?
02. If so, what exactly is it that defines my style?
03. Would you say my stories follow a certain theme?
04. Is there anything you feel I ought to improve or change?
05. Does my style (if I have one) remind you of anyone else?
06. Judging from whatever writing of mine that you've seen, what do you think is/are my strength(s)?
07. What do you think are my weaknesses?


Also: Happy Birthday, minakochan!

Comments

[p-zeitgeist.livejournal.com]

Hmm. I'd say that like b_hallward, you have a distinct voice. I'm shying away from the word "style" because I'm not sure that what I'm responding to is in the way you structure sentences or paragraphs so much as it is what I can only call the particular flavor of your mind. I had no trouble picking out your yami_valentine story, for example. But if you asked me how I did it, I'm not entirely sure I could tell you.

Or maybe I simply need to come back to the question when my brain is less fried, and the part that does analysis is on line. There has to be an answer; it's just an issue of whether I can figure out what it is and then make it fit into words.

[p-zeitgeist.livejournal.com]

I have just gotten off a plane, and am tired enough to post this despite the risk of complete humiliation should I be wrong.

But I've just wandered through the voting posts for this round of CFUD apps. And based on my wandering, I'm reiterating that yes, you have a distinctive style. And also, I knew they'd love you. Except perhaps for the ones whom I wouldn't trust to recognize an aristocratic voice.

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

...oh my god.

I'd gotten a weed letter from from the organizers and, in a fit of peevishness, had stopped following the votes. But yes, you did recognize me correctly, so I can't thank you enough for indeed taking the time to comment. I'd have missed this completely.

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

Except, wait- no, that it isn't me. It's someone else apping the same character, which, uh, is I suppose why I should have looked a little closer before replying to you. *laughs*

[p-zeitgeist.livejournal.com]

There, I do feel like an idiot. But whoever it is, she sounds weirdly like you in some ways. Maybe it's that even now, it's relatively rare to find a competent, in-control Hisoka.

I should be pleased, but I actually find myself with odd feelings of hostility toward them. How dare they impersonate you?

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

Well, you can't feel as stupid as I do. At least you didn't mistake yourself.

But I do agree with you. There's several phrases- particularly in the canon info- that strict me as eerily similiar to the way I worded things (which perhaps is why I managed to think it was mine. Or that's what I'll tell myself).

Heh. Maybe a less wimpier Hisoka is simply finally starting to spread across the fandom.

[p-zeitgeist.livejournal.com]

Oh, I can feel even stupider. If I'd done more than glance at the comments, I'd have known better. But I am consoled a little by the fact that you were confused for a moment yourself.

It's odd, though. I'd been skimming the voting posts over the past few days, and a lot of things that went up for votes struck me as, well, not good. I suppose they know their game, but it makes me wonder about their weeding criteria.

Although I suppose I should be grateful, whatever they're doing, since it removes any temptation I might have had to try to jump in.

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

I don't quite get the logic of some of the voting, either. I'm particularly confused by the ones that vote an application out, and mention that all they want to see changed is that it be slighter longer or shorter. If length is the only problem, why make the player wait till the next round to try again? You already know that the writing style is fine, and that would seem to me to be far more important than how many paragraphs were devoted to the canon, since that will never come up again.

I will refrain from saying anything about the quality of applications, since I'm sure I'm only being bitter from not getting in myself.

But that's not good! I was so looking forward to seeing vampire!Willow.

[p-zeitgeist.livejournal.com]

But the thing is, I don't think you are being bitter. I might accuse myself of being bitter on your behalf, but the facts don't support it, since I was wondering at the quality of many of them before I knew enough to have any animus. But I assumed that the variation in quality was the result of no weeding being done before things went to community vote -- it's only now that I know better that I ask myself that question about criteria. I wonder whether the weeders are looking for a broad, slapstick and summer movie kind of humor? It would explain how some of those apps made the cut.

It wouldn't explain the voting patterns, though, which are just odd. I'm particularly confused by the one you mention, and also by the one that goes, in essence, 'I don't know your series, I only watched one episode seven years ago, but I think you're out of character.'

As for Vampire!Willow, I think it's a safe bet that any possible weeding criteria that would result in your being bounced would bounce me, too. And besides, what fun is it if all your friends aren't there?

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

Hmmm. It could be the humor, I suppose, except that in following the game I haven't noticed that much slapstick. It seems to be more what someone or other described as "IC charcter in OOC situation"- where you laugh because even for all the weirdness of what's happening, the character still sounds so much like *themselves* that it's delightful.

But you're right, that is what seems to win the most in the voting process. It's very strange, and I can't really figure out the logic, particularly since I've now noticed that some people contradict others. Everyone has different tastes of course, but it must be incredibly frustating when some people are telling you to do one thing and others are saying the exact opposite.

Well, mistressrenet is there. She plays two characters, and I think has another application going up in this batch.

[b-hallward.livejournal.com]

1. Yes -- especially if they include having an underlying individual voice in 'style.'

2. Just on a nuts and bolts level I think I remember you using a lot of participles (yay! participles) and a somewhat closed style of punctuation. Um... you tend towards long sentences, broken up with short, dramatic ones. At least that's what stands out in my recollections.

3. Hard to say, since I've only read your Yami stuff, which as a series really lends itself to certain themes -- so I'd have to go with 'maybe/no.' Push came to shove, I'd say a number of your stories deal with how people can and do help each other, but can't really solve anyone else's problems for them. Sort of a 'I can help keep your head above water, but I can't get you back to shore.' Not that this is pervasive or anything, and again it's sort of a Yami thing, too.

4. Nothing jumps out at me. (though I'm such a difficult person, if you really wanted me too, I could probably find fault with pretty much anything if I brooded and worried at it long enough ^^)

5. Nope.

6. As an odd ball thing, I really love your use of light, how things glint and gleam and shimmer, how light in your stories has colors and angles and reflect different times of day. Overall I think the things that make your sex scenes so great really highlight some of your strength as a writer: strongly emotional without being sappy, complicated, and having a visceral quality that can either be gritty or vivid depending on the mood.

7. I'm bouncing the 'needs to write more, damn it' complaint right back at you. *g*

[redshoeson.livejournal.com]

Totally bypassing the meme to say:

THANK YOU!!

I didn't see this until today b/c I'm a bit behind on LJ, but /thank you/!!!

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

Hee. You're welcome!